It is plain I am no moneyed man; as I have forgot, till I came to My last paragraph, what a ferment the money-changers are in!  Mr. Pelham, who has flung himself entirely into Sir John Barnard’s(93) hands, has just miscarried in a scheme for the reduction of interest, by the intrigues of the three great companies and other usurers.  They all detest barnard, who, to honesty and abilities, joins the most intolerable pride. @By my next, I suppose, you will find that Mr. Pelham is grown afraid of somebody else, of some director, and is governed by him.  Adieu!—­Sure I am out of debt now!

P.S.  My dear Sir, I must trouble you with a commission, which I don’t know whether you can execute.  I am going to build a little Gothic castle at Strawberry Hill.  If you can pick me up any fragments of old painted glass, arms, or any thing, I shall be excessively obliged to you.  I can’t say I remember any such things in Italy; but out of old chateaus, I imagine, one might get it cheap, if there is any.

(87) Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and Groom of the stole.  For Walpole’s character of him, see ant`e.-E.

(88) The committee under whose superintendence Westminster Bridge had been built.-D.

(89) Richard Arundel, treasurer to the chambers:  his mother, the Dowager Lady Arundel, was second wife of Thomas, Earl of Pembroke, father of Earl Henry.

(90) Dr. George Stone.

(91) Henry, tenth Earl of Pembroke, and seventh Earl of Montgomery, He died in 1794.-D.

(92) John Lindsey Earl of Crawford, premier Earl of Scotland.  His life, which indeed had little remarkable in it, was published afterwards, in a large quarto.

(93) An eminent citizen, and long member of Parliament for the city of London.  He at length accomplished his plan for the reduction of the Interest of the National Debt.-D.

52 Letter 19 To Sir Horace Mann.  Arlington Street, Jan. 31, 1750.

You will hear little news from England, but of robberies;(94) the numbers of disbanded soldiers and sailors have all taken to the road, or rather to the street:  people are almost afraid of stirring after it is dark.  My Lady Albemarle(95) was robbed the other night in Great Russell Street, by nine men:  the King gave her a gold watch and chain the next day.  She says, “the manner was all"-and indeed so it was, for I never saw a more frippery present; especially considering how great a favourite she is, and my Lady Yarmouth’s friend.  The monarch is never less generous than when he has a mind to be so:  the only present he ever made my father was a large diamond, cracked quite through.  Once or twice, in his younger and gallant days, he has brought out a handful of maimed topazes and amethysts, and given them to be raffled for by the maids of honour.  I told my Lady Yarmouth it had been a great loss to me that there was no queen, for then I suppose I should have had a watch too when I was robbed.